The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-26
A PERILOUs VOYAGE,

After Stormy Experience.
PATCHoGUE, L. l., March 25-The steamer
Scotia, of the Fabre line, Captain Ruffat from
Naples, for New York, with 1000 passengers.
and merchandise, ashore at about 4:l5 this
morning. on the outer bar a mile west of the
Blue Point lifesaving station, and now lies hard
aground When discovered by Capt George
Jones, of the Blue Point station, at daylight
the sea was running so high that it was impos-
sbe to launch life boat, but at about 8 o'clock
line was got aboard the steamer. Before the
breeches buoy was rigged the sea had gone down
sufficiently to allow of the launching of a boat,
which went alongside No one was taken off
except a steerage passenger named Georgia
Farina, who jumped from the steamers deck to
the boat before any one could prevent him.
Farina vas brought ashore and will 90 to New
York this afternoon. He states that the steamer
had experienced terrific storms for more than
week, the vessel tossing terribly and suffering
much damage. Many of the passengers had
limbs broken and received other injuries by be-
ing thrown about the steerage. Yesterday the
machinery gave out, and the wind and sea we're
| high. The captain decided to run the vessel
| ashore, after cutting away her masts at o'clock
| this morning. About 800 women are among the
| passengers. most of whom were taken from the
| steamer Bergundi, after that vessel was run
into by the war vessel Italia, aear Naples. 1t is
| not probable that any more passengers will be
| landed. The steamer is in no Immediate dan
ger, and tugs have been telegraphed for from
New York to take the passengers by water.
The cargo, which consists chiefly of oranges, is
not badly injured.
It was exceedingly fortunate for the stranded
steamer that the high wind and heavy sea
which prevailed when she was run ashore sub
sided so opportunely this morning. Otherwise,
instead of being in condition to still offer shelter
and accommodation to the 1000 souls aboard
| of her. she would probably be breaking up, and
her living freight, if ali were saved to reach the
| beach, would be exposed to the merciless winds
| and put upon shorter ra,ions than have been
| their portion for twenty days past, At day
| light, when Captain Jones and his crew of life
| savers attempted to throw line to the vessel,
| and later, when an effort was made to launch n
boat to reach her. the surf rolled mountains
high and the wind blew a hurricane. Within
two hours q moderate breeze and quieter sea
permitted the launching of the boat and an ap-
proach to the steamer. The vessel lies with her
appearance gives unmstakable evidence of
hard usage by the waves. and the absence of
masts and rigging, together with the general
disorder of her deck. makes her a most distress
ing object, while the poor foreigners who crowd
her decks. gazing longingly amidst their excite
ment at the land, so near and yet SO far create
feelings of commiseration in the hearts of the
hundreds of men who have swarmed to the
beach from all points along the main land
Through surfman, who visited the Scotia in
the lfeboat, and conversed with one of the
steamers crew who spoke little English. it was
learned that the statements of the passenger
Farna, who succeeded in getting ashore in the
first boat that reached the vessel, as to the ter
rible storms experienced and the sufferings O,
the passengers, were not overdrawn. For nearly
twenty days the steamer met series of storms
the waves dashing over the decks like huge
mountains, and at times threatening to entirely
submerge the ship. During most of the time il
was necessary to keep the poor emigrants packed
like sardines in the steerage, where they were
subjected to indescrbable suferings, being
thrown from side to side Of the vessel, pitched
from their births aud sustaining more or less seri
GUS bruises or fractures of their bodies ane
and legs broken, while the children, many O.
them, are black and blue from frequent contac
with the posts and beams. The machinery O.
the steamer had been Of little use for nearly ;
week, and the fact Of the vessel having ru1
ashore with her head northeast directly oppo
site to- her proper course, would indicate tha
she had been tossing about with but Sigh
control. Captain Ruffat behaved nobly, re
l o,,,s, o1 =
during the week. Yesterday the lead was thrown
; frequently. and last night, when the soundin q
indicated proximity to the beach, and the storm
not abating while the vessel strained and tossed
he decided to beach her, and in order to keey
her more steady he ordered the cutting away
, of the masts. When she struck the beach aut
, the tremor and awakening thud of the shocl
was felt by the passengers, scene of inexpressi
BILE excitement prevailed. Women and children
screamed and prayed aloud, while stalwart rner
ran about shouting and gesticulating wildly
l 1t hardly daybreak when the vesse
' grounded and those on board could no: distin
: guish the land ahead, and it was not until III,
0 life-saving crew reached the ship that the cap
3 tain knew just where he was
f Captain Bishop, the Merritt Wrecking Com
: pauy's agent, arrived on the beach about
: o'clock and Immediately took charge of the op
t erstions for saving she vessel, and made read,
: for tugs expected from New York. After in
. specting the vessel, Captain Bishop said h.
: thought she woulc be got off all right and he
cargo be saved.
At o'clock tonight the Scotia was lying cas-,
in about two fathoms of water, 200 feet from
shore, and was working in through the pouad
: ing of the rising tide. 1t has been impossible
l as yet, to obtain any statements from the cap
: tain officers. The life-saving crew with thei
; life boat, nave succeeded n landing loo passen
r gers on the beach; but late in the afternoon or
8 ders were received from New York to keep tn,
passengers aboard until the arrival OF barges
which had been dispatched during the afternoon
!, | The passengers very anxious to get ashore
as they complain of the treatment accorde,